by Matthew Molgaard

Created on: May 30, 2010

Idol Rigged, Or America Deaf?

First and foremost, congratulations are in order to Lee DeWyze. An underdog throughout the majority of the show, Lee ended up walking away with the title of American Idol. You can sing, you’re pretty handy with a six string, and you’re a humble kid, so congrats, and good luck to you.

Where does this leave general season favorite Crystal Bowersox, and what does she now have in common with Adam Lambert, Clay Aiken, and Blake Lewis? Well first off, it leaves in her in a nice comfy position; there’s zero doubt that countless record labels have already obliterated her front door offering (most likely) very, very lucrative contracts. As for the latter question: like Lambert, Aiken and Lewis, she lost to a significantly inferior musician and performer.

I take nothing away from Kris Allen (who released the best album produced by an Idol winner to date, in my humble opinion), Ruben Studdard (who should be extremely marketable), or Jordin Sparks (who has about as much charisma as a can of paint, I‘m sorry to say), they are all indeed very talented (whether you're a fan or not). However, they were all gifted shocking wins by either a corrupt Idol judging system, or a country invaded by deaf American Idol fans. Either way you shake it, it’s awfully fishy.

I must iterate the fact that I mean no disrespect toward Lee DeWyze; the often timid Idol winner has an abundance of potential, and I’m genuinely interested in seeing what musical path he ends up traveling. Furthermore, Lee DeWyze has nothing to do with votes, or tallying - his job is to put the time in rehearsing, and hit the stage once a week to sing his heart out. He did his job, and he did it pretty damn well.

That doesn’t alter the fact that it’s practically become predictable: two finalists, underdog guaranteed victor. It’s challenging to buy into this trend (that now seems to be repeating itself with more frequency). America loves the come-from-behind-kid, but doesn’t America care about the superior talent? And if America isn’t truly to blame, just who the hell is?

I suppose I can walk away from this entertainment debacle with a little sense of comfort; Simon’s officially out of there, which really leaves no reason to tune in to American Idol any longer.

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